Chapter 2:
PARENTS TALK
The nightmare Tommy had endured last night had kept Nora up all night and she was glad the milk situation didn´t get out of hand. She really sometimes wondered what it was that kept Tommy more than her other children so diverse if not contradictory.
During the day he normally was wild and untamed just like all boys his age...
Then again Tommy had been her first son and when she looked at Kevin, she suspected that Tommy´s wildness could be moderate in comparison what was to expect from Kevin.
But Tommy had a vulnerable side to him that had come out last night rather clearly…
Sleeping tightly Nora had abruptly woken up as she heard him crying out and sobbing. She jumped up rushing to see what was wrong and found Tommy sitting in his bed, shaking but not saying a word and there was no talking to him…
Not just Sarah and Kitty came to Tommy´s bed hearing all the noise, even William did, but all he said, was that Tommy had had a bad dream which is normal and nothing to worry about… Nora would have started a fight if the kids weren´t already scared and up when they should have been sleeping.
But now was the time to talk to William about all the stuff that´s been going on lately. Nora found him in the hallway where he was going through his briefcase. He must have sensed her as he looked up, then smiled:
„Got the kids back under control?"
Nora didn´t smile back, saying: "Obviously. It´s just that… uh it´s tricky."
„Oh come on, Nora, what is tricky?"
„It´s just the balance is a little off. Tommy having this dream last night and now acting out to Sarah… it´s so unlike him.
„Nora, it might seem that way now,but Tommy has had nightmares before like all our kids have. It´s normal and so is challenging Sarah. She´s the oldest and Kitty had that phase, too, where she tried to take over being the oldest, remember?
Indignantly Nora anwered:
"I certainly remember. I was the one to tell you. You can´t argue that I pick up on a lot more than you do. How could it be different you working all day?! And I´m saying that there are things going on we have to deal with."
William who looked more and more offended as he listened to his wife, asked quitely but tensely:
"So is it Tommy or Sarah who we need to deal with?"
„Oh,I don´t know. Both I guess. Still I think Sarah´s position as the oldest, smartest,-whatever- hasn´t been the best lately.Her helping me constantly certainly has up-sides and she´s just and fair with her siblings, but I feel like we could be imposing too much responsibility on Sarah,when she´s really only a kid herself.A kid that could get confused by what we demand of her… (trying to get it together) I just don´t want her to get the wrong impression and if we don´t stop this….
She stopped,looked at him, eyed wide open and a troubled worried look on her face. He fixated her with a stern look,now frowning and answering:
„Stop what exactly? And what impression shouldn´t she get?"
Nora opened her mouth but he continued:
"Nora, she´s 10 years old and she needs to learn to take responsibility. In my opinion she should have earlier. She´s such a bright kid, she understands she needs to participate actively in family chores. Didn´t we always teach all of them to look out for one another?"
Nora nodded, but answered firmly:
"Of course we have, but that´s NOT what this is about! There´s no harm in her looking after Kevin and Tommy once in a while but what you suggested yesterday,her alone here at night as practically „the adult" in charge??"
William sighed, now looking as if he finally knew what this –really- was about:
"So this is about tonight.
Nora, we will attend this dinner for a few hours, then be right back. For all I know, the kids will be asleep the whole time. I really don´t see why you´re making all this fuss. Of course, it would have been better to get a sitter, but in such short time. That´s impossible."
„Yeah, well how did that happen?"
„You know how it happened. The CEO of a company, we´ve been trying to make a deal with for months, finally even if on short notice invited us to a formal dinner and there´s no way we can miss that."
„I get that YOU need to attend this precious dinner. But why me as well? You know I don´t even like all these suits whom I have nothing to say to or-"
„Nora, I know you dislike this sort of thing, but I need you there. They invited both of us and the other partners will bring their wives as well. I just need your support on this, honey,please."
Nora still looked unconvinced as she nervously paced around. He reached out to her, gently holding her arms, softy saying:
„It´s just one night. Sarah can do it, she will be fine and so will the others. Okay?"
Exhaling Nora finally gave in:
"Okay,okay. Fine.But I should talk to the kids as soon as possible and-
„I´ll talk to Sarah."
„What?"
„Yes. I´ll explain it to her."
Another shadow darkened Nora´s normally so soft features but she refused to get into another discussion, mumbled „Fine." and went off to get the children ready for school,then in the car and with Sarah present she would tell them all about the evening plans.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Sarah following her father into his office room, now turning her head glancing over to her mother and Nora didn ´t like the look at all. It was all to aware of this strange distance between the two of them, once more.